Nuggets from a Lover of LIFE

Hey, it’s still Christmas!

This is an unusual holiday season! Normally by now I have stashed away the ornaments, tree, and other Christmas trimmings. Not so, this year. I don’t want to hurry the season along. I’ve decided to leave the tree up for at least another two weeks–and maybe four or more!

Many factors enter into this unprecendented decision: the tree is pretty, and it fits nicely into our lifestyle without taking up too much space; the ornaments are lovely to look, and I want to prolong the visual experience; the tree is a Walmart special so it won’t dry out and shed.

But here is the BIG reason: we simply are not through celebrating. We have more family members with whom we haven’t yet been able to share Christmas in our own sweet home. Although we’ve celebrated with our loved ones at other homes, I want everyone to gather at OURS!

Celebrations crowded into a 2 weeks’ time span can only make for exhaustion and illness–especially for those with small children. As one wise adult granddaughter put it, “Christmas gets too busy! Next year we should start our Christmas gatherings at Halloween!”

Maybe we won’t actually start celebrating Christmas in October, but at this time our family will feature Christmas well into the new year.

*As my friend Sandy says, Joe and I don’t have a “family”–we have a “tribe”. We have 43 immediate family members (last count) including ourselves.

Only 36 of us were able to be together over the last 2 weeks–yet that’s a sufficient number to warrant additional celebrations after the Christmas weeks are over. (Come next August, we pray that all 43 of us can join in celebrating our granddaughter Nicole’s wedding!)

Now our Christmas tree continues to warm our hearts. And I intend to keep the festive spirit blooming–as others will be joining us for dinner, music, games, and sharing.

Sometime in the next few weeks the cardinal will “cheer, cheer, cheer” and the mourning dove will “whoo-whooo-whoooo”. When that happens, I’ll know it’s finally time to lovingly tuck away our Christmas decorations for another year. Then we’ll begin celebrating SPRING!

6 Responses

I’m with you, Margaret. Christmas will still be at our home for a couple weeks yet but not for the same reasons. It’s the time that we have after all the wonderful family and friends time to relax, reflect and recharge in my favorite twinkly environment…….I just stoke up the fire and ignore the falling needles.

Enjoy your tree and remaining “tribe” visits!

p.s. Do I even want to know about what looks like a chicken under your tree?!?!?! : )

Our dog hated the squeakers in her toys. The first thing she would do when she got a new toy was to pick it up very carefully, so as to not make any noise, and hide it for awhile. Eventually, she would gingerly chew the offensive squeaker out. Only then, would she play with it.

Dear Margaret,
Thanks to you I’ll be leaving our tree up for another couple of weeks. There is something about a quiet, tree-lit room. Actually, we started a whole new tradition this Christmas. We chose a lovely live tree. My loving husband struggled to load it on our car, struggled to unload it from our car, and then very skillfully sawed the trunk to perfection to fit in the stand. He was rewarded with the oohs and aahs of his loving wife and daughter. Another “perfect” tree! We went to bed that night in anticipation of gathering all our trimmings and adorning our prize with glowing lights and our beloved ornaments. The next morning, thankfully before my husband strung the lights, my daughter and I suffered severe allergic reactions to what else, but the tree. My husband had no choice but to rid our house of the menace. It now stands near our birdfeeder serving as a sanctuary for our small friends. We now have a pre-lit Wal-mart special of our own. And we let Dad choose it.